Ceramic pipe coupling device

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting piping parts, such as a pipe section, to a ball valve, in a piping system. The invention comprises, in combination, a glass-ceramic connector having a radiallyextending peripheral flange at one end, and a retaining ring of a slightly greater diameter than the connector, the ring having a converse mating portion with the flange, the ceramic connector placed in an abutting relationship with another portion of the piping system, such as a ball valve. The retaining ring is positioned about the peripheral flange of the glass-ceramic connector; a similar connector and ring are positioned on the other end of the piping system, such as a ball valve, and means pressing the ring against the flange portion of the connector so as to hold the ring against a gasket interposed between the ring and the flange of the valve. A peripheral bead at the other end of the connector provides a means for joining the connector to the other parts of a piping system, providing a glass-ceramic path for fluid flows.

Unite States flatent 1191 Price et al.

1 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] CERAMIC PIPE COUPLING DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Inventors; William E Price, Sylvania; Pafll 1,169,84011/1969 Great Britain ..285/DlG. 12

Dullabaun, Toledo, both of Oh1o [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.,Toledo, Ohio Primary Exmi"e' wmiam Cline Attorney-E. F. Dwyer and E. J.Holler [22] F1led: Oct. 23, 1970 21] Appl. No.: 83,529 1 1 ABSTRACT.

A device for connecting piping parts, such as a pipe 52 U.S. c1..251/14s, 285/DIG. 12 Section, to a ball valve, in P p y The inven- 511m. (:1. "Fl6l 9/10, F16! 23/00 tion comprises, in combination,a'glass-ceramic [58] Field 01' Search ..251/148, 151', 152, 368; Hectorhaving radially-extending peripheral flange a! 235 423 12 one end, and aretaining ring of a slightl greater diameter than the connector, thering having a con- 5 6 R fere Cit d verse matin ortion with the flange,the ceramic con- 1 1 g p nector placed in an abutting relationship withanother UNITED STATES PATENTS portion of the piping system, such as aball valve. The 3,159,377 12/1964 Samour ..251/368 X retaining ring ispositioned about the peripheral flange 1,213,518 1/1917 McEwen ..285/239of the glass-ceramic connector; a simllar connector 2,388,633 11 /1945De Woody 235 423 x and ring are positioned on the other end of thepiping 3,212,798 10/1965 Lewis et a1 ..285/DIG 12 system, such as a ballvalve, and means pressing the 3,332,710 7/1967 y-; 0 12 ring against theflange portion of the connector so as 10/1967 Stachlw eta "285/1316- 12to hold the ring against a gasket interposed between gz gz i sg Q thering and the flange of the valve. A peripheral bead 3547403 12/1970Graverg a X at the other end of the connector provides a means forjoining the connector to the otherparts of a piping system, providing aglass-ceramic path for fluid flows.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure r- IO 2 I e L 1271 1}, a"; T5 i] i t v I? I 1S I 7 2, V g I ml AT T T T 1- T----- yr" 15"""1 l| I 1 V p m v I I X l'lTi:

PATENTEDAPRIi I973 INVENTOR. R0; DQLLABAOM BY WILLIAM Spam 5 F 7) WYERa". 3 H OLLC'R F Y olt ms CERAMIC PIPE COUPLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION several types. Among them are stainless steel, high-sill0 icairon, glass and glass ceramics. This invention relates to a glassceramic coupling device which has great utility in a piping system wherethe nature of the material prohibits a welding, brazing or solderingconnection. This connecting device provides a means of inter-connectingpipe parts, such parts being made of glass or a glass ceramic.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is necessary in a piping system tohave control devices such as valves, tees and other conduit parts fordiverting and other controlling mechanisms. Leakproof couplings whichare easily inserted in the pipe system are necessary.

This invention provides a means of connecting a glass ceramic conduit toa valve and other pipe parts and providing a continuous glass ceramicpipe system wherein the fluid contacting portions of the system presenta continuous glass ceramic surface to the fluid. The prior art couplingsystems were deficient in that they required metallic connectors andseveral additional parts.

SUMMARY OF THEYINVENTION This invention is a device forcQnnecting pipingsystem parts. A glass ceramic connector provides a coupling betweenparts. The connector has a flange at one end and a bead at another end.A retaining ring fitting over the connector engages the flange of theconnector. The ring presses the connector against the mating part, andthen provides a ceramic path for the system and a leak-tight joint.

This invention provides a means of connecting a glass ceramicconduit toa valve and provides a continuous glass ceramic pipe system wherein thefluid contacting portions of the system present a continuous glassceramic surface to the fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a sectioned elevationalviewof the coupling device of this invention, and a valve assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The FIGURE is a partialcross-section view of the coupling device of this invention connectedwith a conventional valve assembly. A better understanding of theinvention may be had by referring to the accompanying drawing whereinthe FIGURE discloses a valve assembly 10.

A glass ceramic connector 11 is positioned at one side of a valveassembly; a glass ceramic connector may be positioned at the other sidealso. The connector 11 is an elongated, hollow tubular-shaped conduit.The connector has a bead 12 which encircles one end of the connector ata peripheral edge the bead serves as an anchoring point to permit theconnection of the beaded end to another part of a pipe system having abead, using a standard coupling. The other end of the connector has aflange 14. In cross-section, the elongated flange portion has anaxially-extending peripheral portion 15 which has a smooth surface 16which can be butted against a valve assembly 17. A gasket 18 ispositioned between the valve assembly 17 and the end surface of theflange 16. A resilient material 21 is inserted between one surface ofthe flange 15 and the retaining ring 22 and provides a cushion betweenthe retaining ring 22 and the flange 15. The connecting ring 22 isusually circular in configuration and, referring to FIG. 1, has twoportions an axially-extending circumferential portion 23 and alaterally-extending portion 24. These two portions form an L shapedconfiguration sectioned as shown in FIG. 1, which is contoured to beapproximately coextensive with the configuration of a portion of flange15 of the glass ceramic connector. Positioners, such as a plurality ofthe tying rods 25 are used to hold two rings against the valve.Othersuitable positioning devices may be used, depending upon the systemparts being connected:

An assembled piping system will have a pair of ceramic connectorsforming an inlet and outlet passageway for a pipeline such as the valveunit shown; the invention may be applied for connection of other lineassemblies, such as traps, diverters and the like. In this description,the term line assembly includes the connection of any number of pipingparts into a fluid conducting system. I

Thermally crystallizable glass compounds and methods of crystallizingglass-ceramics therefrom are disclosed in U. S. Pat. application, Ser.No. 630,507, filed Apr. 13, 1967, to Petticrew, Richard W. andsubsequently disclosed in corresponding Streamlined Continuationapplication, Ser. No. 866,168, filed Oct. 13, 1968 now US. Pat. No.3,625,718, issued -Dec. 7, 1971.

Examples of a heat-crystallizable glass composition is the following,having this composition in parts by weight as follows: EXAMPLE] 1 Al,()Li,0 ZnO TiO, ZrO, Na,0 K,0

The mixed ingredients are heated in a suitable gas or electric furnaceand brought to the liquid state, which is approximately 3,000 F. Themolten material is transferred directly to a mixing vessel and to asuitable mold. The parts are formed, and the molded part is permitted tocool to room temperature. The molded parts are machined to providedesireable, smooth surface for mating with other parts of the system.The formed and machined part is placed in an oven and heated to a finaltemperature of about 2,000 F. in accordance with a heating schedule asdisclosed in application, Ser. No. 886,168 above. The heat treatment isthat described in the above disclosed Petticrew Applications, Ser. No.630,507 et al.

Other examples of a heat-crystallizable glass composition are shown inTable II, and is accompanied by an explanation of the symbols.

3 4 The explanation ofthe symbols in Table ll is: end, said flangehaving a pair of substantially AP=Annealing point temperature parallel,smooth surfaces extending in a radial Lg Temperature at which thelogarithm of the glass plane;

viscosity in poises is fur(4). b. the other end of the connector havinga radial 1 5 bead about the eri he thereof TABLEII c. a retammg rtng,sa1d rmg posttloned about the COMPOSITION, PARTS BY WEIGHT, AND GLASSflange n the ring bemg a converse mating P PROPERTIES tion to theflange; d. a resilient material, said material positioned v 4 S10, 170.6 70.2 29.2 69.4 28.5 68 68.2 1 between F? p f and the flange A l,0,19.8 17 17 16.9 19.1 19.6 19.4 e. a gasket, sa1d gasket lnterposedbetween a second 3:2 i2 i2 smooth surface of the flange and a surface ofthe T10, 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 ball valve, sa1d surfaces extendingIn a radial plane g8 L4 14 about the-longitudinal length of theconnector;

1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.7 15 Mgr) I 2,2 2 f. means for urgmg the beanng ofthe mug against Na 0 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.4

6 01 01 0'2 02 0.2 0.3 0.2 sald res1l1ent matenal so as to exertpressure 5 5 05 5 5 ()4 4 against the .resihent matenal interposedbetween E 01 M the ring and a radial surface of'the flange and in a 5 20direction generally parallel to the longitudinal A 1260 I150 1245 12401225 1225 1250 center line of the connector, thereby positioning g Y theconnector agamsta surface of the gasket Interpositioned between the saidconnector and the ball valve; and

providing a continuous, glass-ceramic fluid path between the ball valveand any other portion of the glass-ceramic piping system.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for interconnecting parts of a glassceramic piping system,such as a ball valve, to other 3- parts of said system, comprising:

a. an elongated, hollow glass-ceramic connector, said connector having aflange at the periphery of one 7

1. A device for interconnecting parts of a glass-ceramic piping system,such as a ball valve, to other parts of said system, comprising: a. anelongated, hollow glass-ceramic connector, said connector having aflange at the periphery of one end, said flange having a pair ofsubstantially parallel, smooth surfaces extending in a radial plane; b.the other end of the connector having a radial bead about the peripherythereof; c. a retaining ring, said ring positioned about the flange andthe ring being a converse mating portion to the flange; d. a resilientmaterial, said material positioned between the connecting ring and theflange; e. a gasket, said gasket interposed between a second smoothsurface of the flange and a surface of the ball valve, said surfacesextending in a radial plane about the longitudinal length of theconnector; f. means for urging the bearing of the ring against saidresilient material so as to exert pressure against the resilientmaterial interposed between the ring and a radial surface of the flangeand in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal center line ofthe connector, thereby positioning the connector against a surface ofthe gasket interpositioned between the said connector and the ballvalve; and g. providing a continuous, glass-ceramic fluid path betweenthe ball valve and any other portion of the glass-ceramic piping system.